What We Save Saves Us ! Reasons to Protect, Preserve and Conserve Biodiversity Hotspots like the Basai Wetlands in Gurugram

What We Save Saves Us!

I came across the above statement on a paper bag that went on to mention the need to reduce, reuse and recycle our natural resources. The statement, however, also fits in very well with the need to preserve our wetlands. In many ways, the disappearance of wetlands, forests and other biodiversity resources can only spell an environmental catastrophe that we will witness in our lifetimes. We need to protect and preserve our environment for the sake of our future generations. We simply cannot afford to be narrow-minded and greedy enough to consume everything leaving nothing for our children to cherish. What is happening at the Basai Wetland is a classic case of wanton destruction of an important biodiversity resource which also happens to be the pride of the state, a major magnet for wildlife photographers, naturalists, scientists and even those who appreciate nature in all its grace and beauty.

There is an urgent need for us to preserve, protect and nurture our wetlands before they disappear. Wetlands in rural areas should be preserved and developed as they would have great potential for tourism. Unfortunately, our greed for instant earning has made us destroy our wetlands in favour of the real estate sector. Our wetlands, forests and lakes are more precious than the amount that a few would gain from selling the land to build apartments.

I was literally amazed to see a large number of waterbirds at the Basai Wetland in Gurugram recently. The birds included Spot-billed ducks, Knob-billed ducks, Purple Herons, Darters, and numerous Grebes. The Basai wetland located on the outskirts of Gurugram on the Gurugram Jajjhar highway is a bird-watcher's paradise! Lying adjacent to the Gurugram water-treatment plant, the wetland which has been in existence ever since I have seen it is also a waypoint for migratory birds like the Bar-headed Geese and Starlings.

Recently when I visited the wetland I told a student of mine to expect the unexpected while at the wetland, upon which we spotted a huge flock of ducks, spot-billed, shovellers, gadwalls and the like. One might spot anything, from the tiniest exotic birds like a Red Adavat, the European Starling to the largest flying birds like the Sarus Cranes.

The Basai wetland is spread over a wide area and its waterbody has been cut into many slices thanks to the construction activity taking place in the area. Thankfully, there is a waterbody that is cut off from the entry point on the Jajjhar-Gurugram highway. Instead, one might enter from the under-construction Dwarka Expressway, which would require a good deal of off-roading as the mounds of fine sand and dust would swallow a normal vehicle up to its axles.

I used a Canon USM 70-300 mm lens on a Canon 1500D body for these photographs. Taking a zoom lens with you would be sensible. Some of the funnier photographs have been posted below. The first one is of Purple Heron using its long feet to scratch itself. The second one is of a Spot-billed duck that spent most of its time standing on one leg.

Of course one will find the White-throated Kingfisher flitting around with a piece of fish in its beak, or for that matter, even the Pied Kingfisher might be found hovering in the air aiming to strike at its prey luring in the water. The Purple Heron in the third photograph simply doesn't seem to know what to do. I saw it perch on a thorny Acacia tree moving around with uncertainty, though probably getting on the to the tree to get a better view of the fish.